Sounds Around Town: Bluegrass in the basement

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By Ed Symkus

The Dedham Transcript

By Ed Symkus

Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 10:33 AM

By Ed Symkus
Posted Jul. 25, 2014 at 10:33 AM

» Social News

How come nobody’s made a movie about the Whiskey Boys? History buffs will recall them as the protestors who took up arms against tax collectors in 1791 when the Feds imposed a tax on liquor. In the end, after three long years of these folk heroes (troublemakers) tarring and feathering tax collectors and generally misbehaving, the government, under orders of President George Washington, stopped the Whiskey Rebellion. About seven years ago, two Boston bluegrass musicians – fiddler David Delaney and guitarist Mark Killianski – both self-admittedly fond of whiskey – formed a duo and toyed with the idea of calling themselves the Whiskey Boys.

"But I don’t think we would have gone with it if I hadn’t Wikipediaed the name and found out there really were Whiskey Boys and that they were bad-asses," said Delaney from his home in Somerville.

Killianski split in 2012, and these days Delaney, who also sings, heads up a group that ranges in size from three-to-five players, depending on the venue. The Whiskey Boys, in quartet format, play Club Passim in Cambridge on July 27, featuring numbers from their newest album "Time Machine," as well as new songs from both Delaney and Jamaica Plain banjo player Mark Whitaker. (That night’s group will also feature Jordan Santiago on guitar and Ben Kopf on bass, both from Brighton.) There will also be a segment of Beatles covers.

Delaney calls what they do "modern bluegrass." He explained, "We have the bluegrass lineup as far as instrumentation. There’s no mandolin, but we’ve got the banjo, the guitar, bass, and fiddle. But we still listen to a lot of rock and pop music; one of my favorite bands right now is Rage Against the Machine. We’re bluegrass, but I think we wind up with a much more pop-indie rock flavor to our sound, but produced largely with acoustic instruments."

The Whiskey Boys are at Club Passim in Cambridge on July 27 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Joys of Jazz, Festival of Folk

Earlier on July 27, Cambridge opens up its University Park Commons on Sinclair St. with a free Cambridge Jazz Festival, running from noon-6 p.m. Artists include Valerie Simpson, Terri Lyne Carrington, Fernando Brandão and the Berklee Brazilian All-Stars, the Ron Savage Trio, the George W. Russell, Jr. Trio, and Dominique Eade. WGBH’s Eric Jackson serves as host.

Keith Urban headlines a country show with Jerrod Niemann & Brett Eldredge at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield (7:30 p.m.).

The Railroad House band will feature high energy bluegrass and lots of fine harmonies at Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham (8 p.m.).

Folk-pop legend Jonathan Edwards ("Shanty" is still my favorite) returns to the Center for Arts in Natick (8 p.m.).

Austin singer-songwriters (and soon-to-be-married couple) Carrie Elkin and Danny Schmidt celebrate their new album "For Keeps" at Club Passim in Cambridge (3:30 p.m.).

July 28:

Great harmonies in original folkie-style songs that range from laid back to fiery are in store when Melissa Ferrick and Anne Heaton get together Berklee College’s David Friend Recital Hall in Boston (7:30 p.m.).

July 29:

The Beach Binge Tour features Joe Fletcher, Andrew Combs, and Ron Gall & the Hang Ten and a Half Band at Atwood’s Tavern in Cambridge (10 p.m.).

A night of loud rock happens with Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield (7 p.m.).